U.S. – Australia Relations
Essex, Australian Forecasters Work Together to Improve Meteorological Teamwork
At Sea — 19 July 2009
Story Number: NNS090719-07
Release Date: 7/19/2009 9:17:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Taurean Alexander, USS Essex Public Affairs
USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) worked closely with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) July 17 to improve combined meteorological efforts during exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09).
Essex's aerographer's mates are working with a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) forecaster in Essex's Meteorology and Oceanography Center to provide up-to-date weather forecasts and maps to the fleet.
"We're basically taking our normal procedures and combining them with the Australians' knowledge of the area," said Aerographer's Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Aaron Wimberly. "Instead of just using our procedures, we have a joint forecast every day for TS09."
RAN Lt. Michael Jagger explained that Essex and RAN aerographer's mates perform similar duties to predict the forecast.
"There aren't many differences because what we do is pretty standard around the world," said Jagger. "We use the same satellites, internet and we all use computers; it just depends on what region of the world you happen to be in."
The Australians' knowledge of the area has been helpful in providing information to TS09 senior coordinators.
"Together, we have a joint website with weather updates, radar data and tides and currents to give to landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, landing craft utility (LCU) and pilots, so they have a better grip on where to land," said Wimberly.
To generate the daily forecast, aerographer's mates run a model forecast and compare it to real-time data to see how well the model aligns.
"We launch a weather balloon every night to get data to provide forecasts for TS09," said Wimberly. "Throughout the day, our guys go outside every 30 minutes and do a manual reading of weather, seas and the skies."
"The weather can change at the drop of a dime, or our radar might not pick up something, so we're on top of it to keep all exercises we do on track," said Wimberly. "Essex's radar tends to pick up major weather items, but with the Australians' help, we're able to locate smaller systems."
In addition to working together to forecast weather, Jagger is aboard Essex for other reasons.
"In 2013, our Navy will be receiving two new landing ships," said Jagger. "So I'm here to see how other ships run their METOC."
Aerographer's Mate Airman Bryan Boone said working with a different country's Navy has been a great experience.
"Mr. Jagger is a pleasure to work with; he has immense knowledge and is a joy to work with," said Boone. "I'm sure we'll miss him when he leaves."
TS09 is a biennial, combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined operations, which will help improve combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces.
Essex, commanded by Capt. Brent Canady, is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Amphibious Ready Group and serves as the flagship for Combined Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. CTF 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
Original document from www.navy.mil.
Last update: Tuesday, 15 December 2009 GMT+1100
